Philco began exporting Model 20 Baby Grands as well as other models to the UK in 1930. Philco continued to export Philadelphia-made radios to Britain until 1932, at which time a new subsidiary was formed – Philco Radio & Television Corporation of Great Britain. Carleton L. Dyer served as chairman of Philco (UK) for a number of years.

The new Philco subsidiary wasted no time in building a plant at Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex, although some of its models continued to use Philadelphia-built chassis.

As time went on, Philco of Great Britain gradually took over complete manufacture of its own sets; although certain USA Philco models, notably the Model 16, continued to be exported to the British Isles.
It is known that Philco (UK) exported radios to France. As an example, I formerly owned a 1936 Model 2620 Baby Grand which had a chassis built in Philadelphia, cabinet made at Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex, and a dial scale printed in French, obviously for the French market.

Officers of Philco Radio & Television Corporation of Great Britain, Limited, mid-1930s

Carleton L. Dyer, Chairman, Philco Radio & Television Corporation of Great Britain, Ltd., 1935

Tim Williams, Director of Production, Philco Radio & Television Corporation of Great Britain, Ltd., 1935

H.V. Lewis, General Sales Manager, Philco Radio & Television Corporation of Great Britain, Ltd., 1935

Philco (UK) Historical Photos and Adverts

A store window display of Philco radios, United Kingdom, 1934

A window display of Philco model 1263, United Kingdom, 1934

Newspaper ad, United Kingdom, October 1934

A bus with Philco advertising on the side, Stockton-on-Tees, UK, 1935

This postcard shows how the new Philco factory at Perivale looked after it was completed.

Nighttime scene showing a Philco neon sign at the Perivale factory.

Advertisement using humor to illustrate the slogan used by Philco in the UK – Hurry Home to your Philco.

Window display advertisement for Philco valves (tubes).

A Sampling of Philco Radios produced and/or sold in the United Kingdom

Model 261, late version, 1933. The early version is somewhat similar in appearance to the USA 37C cabinet.

Model 233, battery operated, 1934

Model 264 Baby Grand, 1934

Model 264 Concert Grand, 1934

Model 1263 Baby Grand, 1934 – Photo courtesy Sarah Packer

Model 1263 Concert Grand, 1934 – Photo courtesy Dave Seymour

Model 265 Baby Grand, 1935

Model 267 Baby Grand, 1935

Model 801T Auto Radio, 1935

Model 116 Radiogram, 1936. This is the same model as the USA 116PX.

Model 205, 1936

Model 255, battery operated, 1936

Model 280, 1936

Model 281, 1936 – Photo courtesy Darren Ashley

Model 282 Empire Five, 1936

Model 290 Empire Six, 1936

Model 290 Empire Six Radiogram, 1936

Model 806T Auto Radio, 1936

Model 1280 Universal, 1936

Model 1280 Concert Grand, 1936

Model 99 Empire Seven, 1937

Model 99 Empire Seven Radiogram, 1937

Model 269, 1937

Model 295 Empire Five, 1937

Model 444 Peoples’ Set, 1938 – Photo courtesy Nigel Carren

Model 450, 1938

Model A53, 1938

Model A537, 1938

Model A537 Console, 1938

Model A537 Radiogram

Model A637, 1938 – Photo courtesy Bill Moore

Model A637 Radiogram, 1938

Model A638, 1938

Model A847, 1938

Model A938 Concert Grand, 1938 – Photo courtesy Jonathan Dollimore

Model A1847 Radiogram, 1938

Model B537, 1938

Model C527 Bookcase Concert Grand, 1938

Model C537, 1938

Model P322, 1938

Model P337, 1938 – Photo courtesy Lyle Cox

Empire Twenty-Two Balmoral Radiogram, 1938

Empire Twenty-Two Buckingham Radiogram, 1938

Empire Twenty-Two Windsor Radiogram, 1938